Photocomposing machine



April 12, 1938. E, E, COQPER ET A Re. 20,692

PHOTOCOMPOSING mcams Original Filud April 5. 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet lmvENTM-S am M M A TTORNEYS.

Abril 193s. EJE. COOPER ET AL- Re. 20,692

PHQTOCOMPQSING MACHINE a Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 3, 1934 mvcn TORS,

April 12, 1938. I E. E. cooPER ET Al.

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed April 3, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEY-5',

Maw

Reissued Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOCOllTPOSINGMACHINE Original No. 1,999,831, dated April 30, 1935, Serial issue March31, 1937,

Australia April 7, 1933 Claims.

This invention relates to photocomposing machines wherein sensitizedplates receive photographic images, step by step, for use afterwards inprinting. It has for its object to supply a machine the parts of whichshall be capable of being accurately set and effectively operated in theproduction of such plates to be afterwards used in color and otherprinting.

To this end, one of the objects of the invention provides for theaccurate setting of the negative in a negative holder in order that themultiplication of prints from the negative upon a sensitized plate suchas zinc shall be spaced and positioned properly upon the plate.

Another object is to ensure that the moving parts of the machine shallbe adjusted and set in such a manner that the movements in alongitudinal direction of a group of parts shall be substantially atright angles to the movements of the same transversely in the machine.

Provision is also made for mounting a negative carrier or carriers onshafts and. for supporting and very accurately setting and adjusting theshafts. To ensure intimate contact between the negative and thesensitized plate prior to the image being printed thereon, we use arubber gasket, preferably double between the negative and the plate inwhich a partial vacuum is created and broken after printing and beforethe negative 3 is moved the next step over the plate.

The machine is such that the transverse movements of a negative carrierover a table carrying a sensitized plate are effected through a carriagemoving over transverse rails while the placing longitudinally of thenegative occurs through the movements of the carrier support in thecarriage. In this way, photoprints are made on the plate, eithertransversely or longitudinally, step by step, in either direction withgreat exactness, after which the plate is developed in the ordinary wayfor use in. a printing machine.

For the accurate movement of the parts step by step, longitudinal andtransverse scale bars are provided on the machine rails with means forclosely reading the calibrations prior to anchoring the adjusted partsin predetermined positions. Alternatively, instead of the longitudinalscale bar, a bar notched to scale and a riding pawl can be used, thenotched bar being special to the spacing of a particular job or jobs andkept for the repetition of a job. If desired, a. transverse scale barhaving the same character may be employed.

Means are also provided for driving the parts longitudinally ortransversely over the machine April 3, 1934. Application for re- SerialN0. 134,190. In

bed and for minutely setting and adjusting the same with the scale barsafter being so moved and for anchoring the same when so adjusted.

But in order to fully understand the invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, 5 in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of thephotocomposing machine, and

Fig. 2 is a plan of same.

Fig. 3 shows a negative carrier in sectional elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation of a table lifting means, therebeing, if desired, a table and means at each side the machine forprinting on two or four plates simultaneously.

Fig. 5 is a plan, on the line X of Fig. 1, of the table raising andlowering means that may be interacting between a table at one side andthe table at the other side of the machine.

Fig. 6 shows in end sectional elevation. the control tower, the fingerbeing taken from the line Z of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 represents the main working parts of the machine, in plan view,enlarged from Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on line A, of Fig. l, of the transverseadjustment means and showing devices for locking a longitudinalmovement.

Fig. 9 shows in sectional detail means for locking a transversemovement, taken at line C, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional end elevation, at line B of Fig. 1, of means formoving the carriage transversely in the machine.

Fig. 11 is a plan of the same for correcting theposition of the partslaterally.

Fig. 12 shows in perspective View the longitudinal scale bar, thesetting plate and the notch bar holder.

Fig. 13 is also a perspective view of the special job notch bar,carrying two sets of notches.

Fig. 14 is a sectional end elevation of a carrier shaft and itsadjustable supports.

Fig. 15 shows in front sectional elevation a supporting plate of thecarrier shafts and the steadying means thereon in contact with themachine carrying rails.

Fig. 16 illustrates in sectional elevation a register table withnegative frame in place and under adjustment.

Fig. 1'? is a plan view of the register table and negative frame inposition therein, under adjustment, and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view, enlarged, of the table, negative holdercontaining the negative frame, the sensitized plate under the negativeand double gasket in place.

tact with the negative frame 4| The frame-work or base 25 of the machineis fixed and supports the transverse rails 2| upon which thesuperstructure and carriage are erected and move. Also on the frame-workis a rail 22 bearing the transverse scale bar, and the aligning bars 23.The vertical plates 24 are secured to the stay or brace rods 26 of whichthere are several and constitute the carriage of the machine that issupported on rollers 25 one of which is at the front and rear edges ofthe plates 24. To steady the machine during extended movements, rollers24', Fig. 15, are attached to the plates 24 in such a way as to besuspended therefrom and to come under and in contact with the rails 2|on which the carriage moves. The rollers 24' will remain in contact withthe rail to avoid any tipping of the superstructure during extendedlongitudinal movements thereof. The carrying wheels 25 are driven fromthe spur pinions 58 at one end of the structure. The carrier shafts 21pass through the plates 24 but are not journalled therein. The platescarry on their outer faces brackets in which are rollers 28 that bearupon and support the shafts. The rollers are eccentrically mounted, seeFig. 14, on their bolts, by turning which the positions of the shaftscan be individually altered and the whole set arranged in parallel whilebeing free to move through the plates 24 and the rollers.

The carriage plates 24 only indirectly support the shafts, the holestherein through which the shafts pass being bored to a master plate orjig, each opening being such as to carry a bush with clearance betweenthe shafts. A convenient way for proving the shafts 21 parallel is toarrange for same to pass centrally through the holes in the plates, withslight clearance, the positions then being checked by feeler gaugesinserted be tween the shafts and the bushes.

At their ends the shafts support the plates 29 each of which is attachedto and maintains a negative carrier 30 suspended over a table 3|. Thetable or tables when actuate-d should move in a vertical plane and toensure such movements the downwardly depending legs of each table passbetween rollers similar to rollers 28 held on the framework 20. The legsare secured at right angles to the tableswhich are raised and loweredthrough the legs by any convenient means such as the foot pedals 32 andlevers 33 which can be interacting through levers 34 and the connectingrod 35, Fig. 1. The rod may be uncoupled and each table moved, ifrequired, independently.

In machines of the kind indicated, it is of great importance to set andmount the negative correctly in its support, that is to say, at deadcentre with the keys or dowels. To this end, the negative before beingplaced in the negative carrier 30 is put in the register frame 36 whichcontains the case member 31 to whichthe negative in its mount can besecured, when set to register, by the keys 3B, in the usual manner. Butin order to set the negative quickly and accurately to the artistsmarks, the usual screws 39 are upon the register frame 36 together withthe screws 40. All are provided with rollers on the tips in conand thescrews 49 are provided with spring buffers against which will be bornethepressure of the screws 39 by which the negative holder can be movedin a gyratory way to bring the negative to register dead centre, thenegative holder and frame or mounting 4| meanwhile moving easily on therollers 42 of the screws 40. When the negative 46 is properly set it islocked in the chase and taken out and placed on a similar set chase inthe negative carrier 30 and therein held over the sensitized plate 43that rests on the table 3|. Between the negative and the plate 43 is arubber double gasket 45 that serves to keep the plate and negative intheir relative positions while the photo print is being made. Wetherefore attach into the gasket, pipes through which a vacuum pump mayoperate to provide a partial vacuum in the gasket and at the proper timeadmit air thereto to break the vacuum to permit the gasket to freelyleave the plate. The leads or tubes come in through the control tower 41that is mounted on the shafts 21. The lead to vacuum pump is marked 48and lead 49 is to atmosphere or an air compressor. The lead 50 is to theelectric lamps upon each end of the movable arms 5|, supported on thetower 41. Also on the tower are the necessary switches and controls ofthe working parts and of the gasket 45, to which air or vacuum isprovided through pipe 52, Fig. 18. The lights are switched on while thelamps hang over the negative to print the image on the sensitized plate.After printing, the table is lowered away and the carrier 30 is movedfurther over the table into position to print the next picture. To keepthe images in proper alignment, it is consequently necessary to soadjust the parts of the machine that same will move longitudinally in adirection that shall be exactly at right angles with the line ofmovement transversely.

On a carrier shaft 21 a bar 53, called the setting bar, Figs. 7, 10, and12, is mounted and moves with the shafts over a fixed scale bar 54bearing the required calibrations and that is supported on brackets 55on a stay rod 26. In. the forward end the setting bar is fitted with awindow 56, Fig. 12, that is brightly illuminated and lined to assist theoperator in reading the calibrations on the rail 54.

To cause the shafts and control tower to be moved longitudinally in themachine, a hand wheel 51 is on the tower 41, that operates a rack andpinion through suitable gearing. To slow down the movement when settingthe position of the parts through the window 56, the back gear isemployed through the hand wheel on the spindle of which is a pinion 6 I,that engages with the spur wheel 62, on the spindle of which is thepinion 58 in mesh with the teeth of a rack 59 supported between thecarriage plates 24. The final setting movement will be efi'ected throughthe wheel 60 and the parts can then be locked or anchored through theclamping jaw 53, Fig. 8, and thumb screw 64 carried by a shaft 27 andadapted to grip upon a fixed rod I00.

To move, adjust and secure the parts transversely, a scale bar 65 isupon the transverse rail 22 over which the carriage is moved throughhand wheel 65 on spindle 61 and gearing 68 associated with the carryingwheels 25. When the movement through the hand wheel 65 is nearlycomplete it is finished through the device illustrated in Fig. 8. Thiscomprises a bracket mounted on a forward stay rod 26 bearing a thumb nut10 on the spindle 69, which is screw threaded, and connected at itsforward end to links H arranged togglewise. The lower pair of links areat an obtuse angle and to the end of the rearward link a sliding shoe 72upon. the rail 22 is connected. On the shoe is a pressure screw 13 bywhich the shoe can be secured to the rail. The forward arm 14 extendsover the driving rod 61 into another shoe adapted to grip the rail 22through the thumb screw 75 and terminates in the lined window 16 overthe scale bar 65, Figs. '7 and 8. Now, after the superstructure has beenmoved the approximate distance: by the hand wheel 66, same can withaccuracy be adjusted and positioned by operating the nut Ill, after theshoe 12 has been secured to 22, to alter the position of the lower pairof links II. If the screw be turned to cause the links to come more intoline the member 16 will be moved forward over the scale 55, andreversely if the angle between the links H is reduced, thus setting theline in the window 16 into accurate coincidence with the line on thescale. After so setting, the screw I is used to secure the parts to therail 22 after, if desired, easing the shoe 12.

Instead of the longitudinal scale bar 54, the notched bar holder 11 canbe on a front stay rod 26 and employed with a pawl 18 on the setting bar53. In the holder the notch bar 19 will be held in place and relied uponinstead of the stops 8!) that are engaged by the pawl 18 as the bar 53moves. The notches in the bar I9 will be positioned to suit a particularjob and after use will be identified with that job for use again onrepeat orders. There may be two sets of notches in the bar, as shown,each applying to a particular job. As the setting bar moves with itspawl longitudinally with a carrier shaft 21, the pawl will drop into anotch in the bar 19, the distance between. centres in the notches beingthe distance between centres of the images or prints to be made on thesensitized plate. A table is at each end of the machine, each tablecarrying a sensitized plate. Two plates can be on each table over eachof which will be suspended a double negative carrier 30.

In the application of the negative to the sensitized printing plate andfor developing the same, the image to be placed on the plate is in theform of a negative made photographically or through dia-positives fromoriginal stones or plates. The negatives are set in a frame or registerto accord with the artists or register marks and are placed in thenegative carrier, one going into each end of the machine. The printingplates are coated with a photographic solution which becomes sensitiveto light when dry. Working in an orange light, the plates are attachedto the tables and the negatives. are stepped accurately over the plates,the position of each step, prior to exposure to the arc lamps, beingaccurately located by the adjustment means provided in the machine.After the plate has received the required number of exposures, it isrolled up all over with a black developing ink and placed under waterand developed. This ink is soluble in water except where it comes incontact with light which causes the colloid in the photographic solutionto harden, rendering it insoluble. As the plate develops under theaction of the water those parts. which have not been exposed. to lightand are still soluble develop away, carrying off the ink fllm. Thoseparts of the plate that have been exposed to light such as the openparts of the negative, remain firm, retaining part of the ink. Whiledescribing the process of development, we have no intention of claimingfor same but only for the machine by which the photo record upon thenegative or negatives can be accurately and expeditiously printed, stepby step, upon a sensitized printing plate or plates.

As the parts are primarily set, as hereinbefore explained, forlongitudinal movement in the machine, so provision must be made forprimarily setting or fixing the parts for the transverse movements. Thisis looked after through the rails 23, which are securely held andsupported on the bed frame 20. The carriage is supported on the rollersmoving on the rails 2i and in the structure are the front and rear stayrods 26. Hung on the said stay rods through the brackets 8! is a plate82 over each rail' 23 and bolted at each end at the points 84 to anadjustment plate 83. The two opposing bolts 84 are in oblique slots madein the plate 82 and the other bolt serves as a, pivot for adjustingplate 82 in relation to rail 23. On the adjustment plate 83 behind thebolts 84 are rollers 85 which are mounted on eccentric spindles and therollers bear against the edges of the rail 23. The plates 82 are bracedacross the machine by irons 85. If the bolts 84 areloosenedthesuperstructure may be slightly slewed or turned to alter thedirection of travel of same upon the rails 2| and the final minuteadjustmentismade toa standard line or to measurements by operating theeccentric rollers 85, after which the bolts 84 are again secured.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage and a vertical holed plate at each side movable over the rails,

carrier shafts that pass through and are supported by the plates,negative carriers on the ends of said shaft, means for supporting asensitized plate under each negative and means for moving the negativecarriers with the shafts longitudinal.- 1y or transversely step by stepover the sensitized plates to print the photographed image there-en.

2. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage and vertical holed platesadapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts that passthrough the plates, brackets on the vertical plates, rollers havingeccentric spindles in the brackets said rollers bearing upon andsupporting the shafts, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts andmeans for moving same longitudinally or transversely in the machine.

3. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage and vertical holed platesadapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts that passthrough and are supported by the plates, negative carriers on the endsof said shafts, a scale bar on the machine and means for moving thecarrier shafts and connections over the scale bar and for locking theparts when set.

4. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage and vertical holed platesadapted to transverse movements therein, carrier shafts that passthrough and are supported by the plates, negative carriers on the endsof said shafts, a control tower on the shafts, a setting bar on acarrier shaft, a notched bar made to suit the spacing of a particularjob held under the setting bar and a pawl thereon that, as the shaftsand negative carriers move longitudinally, engages in the notches tocontrol the step by step movements of the negatives.

5. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage and vertical holed platesadapted to transverse movements therein, shafts that move through andare supported by the plates, negative carriers on the ends of saidshafts, means for supporting a sensitized plate under each negative andmeans whereby the parts can be adjusted and set in such a manner thatthe movements in a longitudinal direction of a group of parts shall besubstantially at right angles with the movements of said partstransversely in the machine.

6. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage,car rier shafts adapted to move through While being supported by theplates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, means forsupporting a sensitized plate under each negative, a table adapted to bemoved vertically carrying each plate, and means whereby the negativesare moved step by step over the plates transversely with the carriageand longitudinally through the movements in said carriage of the carriershafts.

7. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage,stay rods between the plates, carrier shafts adapted .to move throughthe plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, a calibratedrail parallel to the transverse rails, means for moving the carriageover the rails, a toggle device on a stay rod, clamping means at therear end thereof, a clanipable hood at the other end movable over thecalibrations on the third rail when the toggle is operated to minutelyadjust the position of the superstructure.

8. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transversemovements therein, vertical holed plates on the carriage, stay rodsbetween the plates, shafts that move through and are supported by theplates, negative carriers on the ends of said shafts, means forsupporting a sensitized plate under each negative and a table bearingeach sensitized plate adapted to be moved vertically towards or awayfrom a negative.

9. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transversemovements therein, vertical holed plates supported by stay rods on thecarriage, shafts adapted to move through the plates, negative carrierson the ends of said shaft, means for supporting a sensitized plate undereach negative, a table bearing each sensitized plate movable towards oraway from a negative, a rubber gasket between a sensitized plate and anegative and means for creating a partial vacuum within the gasket andfor releasing same from the sensitized plate.

10. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage,a plurality of stay rods between the plates, a rail parallel to thecarriage rails, carrier shafts adapted to move through the holed plates,negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, means on a stay rod forsetting and locking the transversely movable parts on the parallel railand means on a carrier shaft and another stay rod for locking the partsin longitudinal alignment.

11. In a photocomposing machine, a body,

transverse rails thereon, a carriage movable over the rails, verticalholed plates on the carriage, a plurality of stay rods between theplates, carrier shafts adapted to move through the holed plates,negative carriers on the ends of the shafts, rails parallel to thecarriage rails, brackets on the stay rods and plates attached to thebrackets suspended over said parallel rails, an adjustment plate belowand at each end of each suspended plate boltable thereto and rollerseccentrically mounted on the adjustment plates that bear on each side ofa parallel rail whereby the direction of travel of the carriage may bealtered.

12. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage,shafts movable through the holed plates, negative carriers on the endsof the shafts, brackets depending from the holed plates over thecarriage rails and a wheel in each bracket adapted to engage and moveover the underside of a rail.

13. In a photocomposing machine, a carriage adapted to transversemovement therein, vertical holed plates on the carriage, shafts adaptedto move through the plates, negative carriers on the ends of the shafts,means for supporting a sensitized plate on the table under eachnegative, a frame in which the negative is positioned to be made toregister dead centre, a register tab-1e bearing the frame, roller tippedpressure screws on the table bearable upon the sides of the frame andbuffer springs in the screws on two adjacent sides of the table.

14. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage and a vertical holed plate at each side movable over the rails,negative carriers, means passing through said plates providing the solesupport for said negative carriers, means for supporting a sensitizedplate under each negative and means for moving said negative carrierswith their supporting means longitudinally or transversely step by stepover the sensitized plate to print the photographed image thereon.

15. In a photocomposing machine, a body, transverse rails thereon, acarriage movable over the rails, vertical holed plates on the carriage,negative carriers, movable means extending through and supported by saidplates for bearing said negative carriers, means for supporting asensitized plate under each negative, a table adapted to be movedvertically carrying each plate, and means whereby the negatives aremoved step by step over the plates transversely with the carriage andlongitudinally through the movements in said carriage of the negativebearing means.

EDWARD EUGENE COOPER. ALBERT THEODORE TROEDEL.

